By Steve Barrett
A flurry of clutch super shots from Eleanor Cardwell in the dying seconds has helped the Adelaide Thunderbirds pinch a thrilling 64-63 win over West Coast Fever at RAC Arena.
The Fever led Sunday’s top-of-the-table blockbuster at every change and held sway by six points with three minutes to play before Cardwell showed why her prized signature was secured over the summer.
Eleanor Cardwell and Rudi Ellis of the Fever contest for the rebound ball during the round six match at RAC Arena.Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images
The English import buried four long-range bombs to spearhead Adelaide’s 8-1 charge to the finish line, including the go-ahead clincher with five seconds remaining after electing to bomb from deep instead of go with the safety of a one-pointer.
“Everyone on the bench was yelling at me to take a one [one-point shot],” Cardwell said.
“I looked at the clock and [Fever] would have had time to go and score two.
“So I just thought ‘I’ll go for a two’.
“We were a bit scrappy at times and we shouldn’t have left it to the last few seconds to try to get that win.
“I’m really proud of the girls and how they ground it out.”
Cardwell’s exploits paced Adelaide’s 19-13 fourth-quarter assault which saw the Fever’s unbeaten start to the year come to an end.
At the other end, the world’s best shooter, Jhaniele Fowler (51 goals) marginally took the honours in her mouth-watering, all-Jamaican match-up with the world’s best defender Shamera Sterling (six deflections, four intercepts).
With Fowler lethal in close and ex-Thunderbird Sasha Glasgow perfect from long range, West Coast didn’t miss a shot in the opening term.
The Thunderbirds celebrate the win.Credit: James Worsfold/Getty Images
The reigning champions sprinted ahead 18-10 before Cardwell buried three unanswered two-pointers inside the last minute of the opening period to slice the deficit to 20-17.
Uncompromising Fever captain Courtney Bruce momentarily got on top of Cardwell in the second stanza as the margin threatened to grow again.
Tippah Dwan capped a fine quarter by nailing a super shot on the halftime siren to trim West Coast’s buffer to 35-31.
Some timely intercepts from Adelaide’s West Indian defensive duo Sterling and Latanya Wilson saw the visitors level the scores in the third term before the Fever finished the quarter on a 6-1 run to lead 50-45.
Thunderbirds captain Hannah Petty came off the bench to start the fourth and immersed herself into the thick of the action, her relentlessness in the middle allowing Cardwell to prosper down the stretch.
AAP
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